Method and Device for Transporting and Processing Multiple Items

ABSTRACT

A method and a device transports and processes multiple items, in particular postal consignments. Each item passes through a first processing installation and then at least one second processing installation. The first processing installation measures in each case a processing attribute and two values which two predefined features assume for the item, and generates a data record for the item. Data records for items that the second processing installation subjects to a predefined treatment are selected. The second processing installation measures at a first time point the value which the first feature assumes and later the value of the other feature. It searches for a selected data record and uses the feature value measured initially. When it finds such a data record, it subjects the item concerned to the predefined treatment.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. § 119, of German applications DE 10 2007 044 737.1, filed Sep. 18, 2007; DE 10 2008 003 775.3, filed Jan. 10, 2008; DE 10 2008 017 185.9, filed Apr. 4, 2008; the prior applications are herewith incorporated by reference in its entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a method and a device for transporting and processing multiple items, in particular postal consignments.

A postal consignment typically passes through a sorting installation at least twice and is then transported to the respectively predefined delivery address. The delivery address of the postal consignment is read during the first pass. The read delivery address is determined again during the second pass. The postal consignment is then transported to the determined delivery address.

Traditionally, a coding of the destination address is printed onto the postal consignment during the first pass. This coding is read during the second pass. In order to avoid printing on postal consignments, it is proposed in German patent DE 4000603 C2 that a feature vector of the postal consignment be measured during the first pass and this feature vector stored together with the read destination address. During the second pass, the postal consignment is measured afresh. A further feature vector is generated by this measure. The further feature vector is compared with the stored feature vectors in order to find the stored feature vector of the same item. The destination address that is stored together with the found feature vector is used as the destination address to which the postal consignment is to be transported.

A method and a device is known from European patent EP 1222037 B1. The items there are likewise postal consignments that pass through a sorting machine at least once. In the method, multiple items are transported and processed. At least one measurable processing attribute and at least two measurable features are predefined. Each item passes through a first processing installation and then at least one second processing installation. The first processing installation, for each item measures what value the processing attribute assumes for the item, measures for each predefined feature what value this feature assumes for the item, and generates and stores a data record for the item. The data record contains the two measured feature values and the measured processing-attribute value. The second processing installation, for each item measures afresh for each predefined feature what value this feature assumes for the item, and uses the two feature values measured during the fresh measurement, to determine the data record which the first processing installation has generated and stored for this item. The second processing installation processes the item depending on the processing-attribute value in the determined data record.

One problem that can arise in the case of the method known from European patent EP 1222037 B1 stems from the fact that the second processing installation has to affix a processing mark e.g. a changed delivery address, onto some items, e.g. postal consignments, at an early stage, before it has measured the entire feature vector and compared it with the stored data records.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a method and a device for transporting and processing multiple items that overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art devices of this general type, in which the second processing installation can carry out a treatment of an item which is passing through, before determination of the data record for the item using the two feature values is complete.

With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a method for transporting and processing multiple items. The method includes predefining at least one measurable processing attribute and at least two measurable features and passing each item through a first processing installation. The first processing installation performs the steps of measuring what value the measurable processing attribute assumes for the item resulting in a measured processing-attribute value, measuring for each of the two measurable features what value a measurable feature assumes for the item resulting in two measured feature values, and generating and storing a data record for the item, the data record containing the two measured feature values and the measured processing-attribute value. Each item is passed through at least one second processing installation. The second processing installation performs the steps of measuring afresh for each of the measurable features what value the measurable feature assumes for the item resulting in two new measured feature values, measuring at a first time point the value which one of the two measurable features assumes for the item, measuring at a subsequent second time point the value which the other measurable feature assumes for the item, searching for a selected data record with the value measured at the first time point, after the data record is found, subjecting the item concerned to a predefined treatment, using the two new measured feature values to determine the data record which the first processing installation has generated and stored for the item, and processing the item depending on the processing-attribute value in the data record determined. At least one data record is selected which was generated for the item, the item being subjected to a predefined treatment by the second processing installation.

Multiple items are processed and transported. Each item passes through a first processing installation and then at least one second processing installation. It is possible for an item to pass twice through the same processing installation, which consequently functions as the first and the second processing installation.

At least one measurable processing attribute and at least two measurable features are predefined.

The first processing installation executes for each item the now described steps. It measures what value the processing attribute assumes for the item. It measures two values that the two predefined features assume for the item. It generates a data record for the item and stores it. The data record contains the two measured feature values and a coding of the measured processing-attribute value.

At least one data record is selected from among the stored data records. Each selected data record was generated for each such item as is to be subjected to a predefined treatment by the second processing installation.

The second processing installation executes for each item the now described steps. It measures at a first time point the value that the one of the two features assumes for the item. It searches for a selected data record and uses for the search the particular feature value that it has measured at the first time point. When it finds such a data record, it subjects the item from which the found data record originates to the predefined treatment. It measures at a subsequent second time point the value that the other feature assumes for the item. It determines the data record that the first processing installation has generated and stored for the item—even if the data record is not a selected data record. For this determination, the second processing installation uses the two feature values measured during the fresh measurement. It processes the item depending on the processing-attribute value in this data record.

Thanks to the invention, the second processing installation can start the predefined treatment once it has measured the value of the first feature at the first time point. It is not necessary to wait until the second time point for the other feature to be measured.

The invention can be applied e.g. to the processing and sorting of postal consignments, passenger items of luggage or even containers or other freight items.

The processing attribute is for example an identification of a destination address to which the item is to be transported, an identification of the respective owner of the item or a dimension or the weight of the item. The destination point is e.g. a delivery address for a postal consignment or a production line of a factory or a destination railway station or destination port or destination airport for a luggage item or freight item. The processing attribute can also be the result of an analysis of a shipping fee with which the item is furnished.

In accordance with an added mode of the invention, the second processing installation, when it has found the selected data record with the value measured at the first time point, starts the predefined treatment of the item before the second time point.

In accordance with an additional mode of the invention, there are the further steps of passing the items through the first and the at least one second processing installation in one sequence respectively, determining a sequence in which the items pass through the first processing installation, and using the sequence determined to define a target sequence in which the items are to pass through the at least one second processing installation. The at least one second processing installation uses the target sequence of the items in searching for the selected data record with the feature value measured at the first time point.

In accordance with a further mode of the invention, there is the step of deriving from the target sequence of the items and from the data records, a target sequence of data records and using the target sequence of the data records in the search.

In accordance with another mode of the invention, for each item passing through the at least one second processing installation there are the steps of generating in each case an image of the item; and measuring the two measurable features by analyzing the image and a time at which a respective analysis is complete is used as a respective time of measurement of the value of the measurable feature.

In accordance with another further mode of the invention, the at least one second processing installation, for at least one data record which it has found using the first feature value, performs the step of checking whether the value which the other feature in the item assumes during the measurement at the second time point matches the value of the other feature which a found data record contains. If there is no match, performing a corrective operation for the item which, based on the feature value measured at the first time point and the finding of the data record, the item is subjected to the predefined treatment.

In accordance with another added feature of the invention, the predefined treatment of the item by the second processing installation depends at least on one of the first feature value measured at the first time point and on the processing-attribute value measured during the first pass for the item.

In accordance with a further additional mode of the invention, there are the steps of executing the selection of the at least one data record using the processing-attribute values measured during the first pass of the items; and the processing of an item from which a selected data record that was found using the feature value measured at the first time point originates contains the step whereby the second processing installation affixes at least one character to the item, depending on the value which the processing-attribute value assumes for the item.

In accordance with a further additional feature of the invention, in that for at least one item the measured processing-attribute value which the first processing installation measures, is an identification of a destination to which the item is to be transported and with which the item is furnished, and the at least one character which the second processing installation affixes to the item depending on the measured processing-attribute value, is a further parameter for transportation of the item.

In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention, the further parameter for transportation of the item is a different destination point.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a method and a device for transporting and processing multiple items, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is an illustration showing a network containing three processing installations; and

FIG. 2 is an illustration showing a diagram of a temporal sequence in the processing of postal consignments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the figures, material flows are represented by solid lines and data flows by dashed lines. Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and first, particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a network containing three processing installations Anl-1, Anl-2 and Anl-3. The three processing installations are configured as sorting installations. Each sorting installation has a feeding device in the form of a feeder, a reading device and a multiplicity of output compartments. Postal consignments are fed into the feeder of such a sorting installation. The feeder separates the postal consignments. The separated postal consignments then pass through the sorting installation. The reading device generates an image of the postal consignment. Using the image, the sorting installation determines the delivery address and discharges the postal consignment into one of the output compartments, depending on the delivery address recognized. Each of the three sorting installations Anl-1, Anl-2 and Anl-3 is connected to a central database DB and has read and write access to the database DB.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, postal items are first fed into the feeder ZE-1 of the sorting installation Anl-1. The sorting installation Anl-1 generates a digital image of each postal consignment and, by analyzing the image, determines the delivery address. The sorting installation Anl-1 first attempts to determine the delivery address automatically by optical character recognition (OCR). If this is unsuccessful, the image is transmitted to a video coding station, and an operator inputs the delivery address—or at least the zip code—manually. The sorting installation Anl-1 discharges the postal consignment into one of the output compartments, depending on the delivery address determined respectively.

In the example from FIG. 1, three output compartments Af-1.1, Af-1.2 and Af-1.3 of the sorting installation Anl-1 are shown. The postal items which the sorting installation Anl-1 has discharged into the output compartment Af-1.1 are transferred in the example from FIG. 1 into a container Beh-1. The container Beh-1 with these postal consignments is transported again to the feeder ZE-1 of the sorting installation Anl-1. The postal consignments from the container Beh-1 are separated by the feeder ZE-1 and pass afresh through the sorting installation Anl-1.

A delivery area is assigned to each possible delivery address. During each pass, all postal consignments to the same delivery area are discharged into the same output compartment. It is possible for postal consignments to different delivery areas to be discharged into the same output compartment. It is possible for a postal consignment to pass through the same sorting installation several times, for example because the number of output compartments is lower than the number of predefined delivery areas. In this case, n-pass sequencing is preferably executed. Such a method is known from European patent EP 948416 B1. After the first pass, the postal consignments which the sorting installation has discharged into an output compartment are transferred into a container. The container is transported to the feeding device of the second sorting installation, and the postal consignments are fed into the sorting installation for the second pass.

In the example from FIG. 1, the postal consignments are fed from the output compartment Af-1.1 to the feeding device ZE-1 and pass afresh though the installation Anl-1. A reason for this may be that n-pass sequencing is executed, as just described. It is also possible for individual postal consignments to pass through the sorting installation Anl-1 several times because off-line video coding is executed. During the first pass, a digital image of the postal consignment is generated. If the address in this image cannot be recognized automatically, the image is transmitted to a video coding station. There, the address is input manually. After this has happened, the postal consignment passes through the sorting installation afresh and is discharged into an output compartment, depending on the address input.

The postal items which the sorting installation Anl-1 has discharged into the output compartment Af-1.2 are transferred in the example from FIG. 1 into a container Beh-2. The container Beh-2 with these postal consignments is transported to the feeder ZE-2 of the second sorting installation Anl-2. The postal consignments from the container Beh-2 are separated by the feeder ZE-2 and pass through the sorting installation Anl-2. An analogous process takes place with the postal consignments which the first sorting installation Anl-1 has discharged into the output compartment Af-1.3. These are transported in the container Beh-3 to the feeder ZE-3 of the third sorting installation Anl-3.

The two remaining sorting installations Anl-2 and Anl-3 use afresh the reading result which the sorting installation Anl-1 has obtained. The sorting installation Anl-1 therefore generates for each postal consignment that passes through the sorting installation Anl-1 a data record and stores it in the central database DB. This data record contains an internal identifier of the postal consignment and an identification for the delivery address which the first sorting installation Anl-1 has read.

Each further sorting installation through which the postal consignment passes, recognizes this postal consignment. Therefore, multiple features which are optically measurable are predefined. Examples of such features are:

a) dimensions of the postal consignment,

b) the distribution of gray levels and/or color tones on a surface of the postal consignment,

c) the position and dimension of the franking mark,

d) the position and size of the address block and/or of the details relating to the sender, and

e) features of the delivery address, e.g. the zip code.

The first sorting installation Anl-1 determines for each postal consignment that passes through the sorting installation Anl-1 what value the predefined features assume in this postal consignment. In this way, the first sorting installation Anl-1 generates a feature vector that, where n features are predefined, consists of n feature values. The first sorting installation Anl-1 supplements the data record for the postal consignment with the feature vector, i.e. with an identification of the n feature values.

The second sorting installation Anl-2 also measures for each postal consignment that passes through the sorting installation Anl-2 what value each predefined feature assumes for this postal consignment. In this way, the second sorting installation Anl-2 also generates a feature vector containing N feature values. The second sorting installation Anl-2 executes a read access to the central database DB. The feature vectors of stored data records are compared with the currently measured feature vector. In this way, the data record that originates from the postal consignment currently under examination is determined. This determined data record contains the delivery address of the postal consignment, which the first sorting installation Anl-1 has read.

Each postal consignment is furnished with a delivery address. However, the case may arise that the postal consignment is not to be transported to the particular delivery address ZA-1 that is specified on the postal consignment but to another delivery address ZA-2. For example, the recipient of the postal consignment has placed a forwarding request and requested that all postal consignments which are furnished with the delivery address ZA-1 are actually to be rerouted to the new delivery address ZA-2 and to be transported to ZA-2. The sender of the postal consignment who has affixed the old delivery address ZA-1 onto the postal consignment is namely frequently not informed about the change of address. In order that a deliverer can deliver the postal consignment correctly, it is necessary for the postal consignment to be furnished with the new delivery address ZA-2. It is also possible that a delivery mark is to be affixed to the postal consignment subsequently.

In the exemplary embodiment, these subsequent changes do not necessarily occur at the time at which the postal consignment concerned passes through the first sorting installation Anl-1 but only when it passes through the second sorting installation Anl-2. This enables the operator of the sorting installations to react quickly to changes of address. However, only the second sorting installation Anl-2 can therefore furnish the postal consignment with corresponding marks. Only individual postal consignments from the stream of postal consignments passing through the second sorting installation Anl-2 are each furnished with a mark, e.g. with a new delivery address ZA-2. The remaining postal consignments are to be transported to the delivery address that is printed on them.

FIG. 2 shows the temporal sequence in the processing of postal consignments by the second sorting installation Anl-2.

A selection unit 1 searches through the central database DB for data records of such postal consignments as they pass through the second sorting installation Anl-2 within a defined period of time and are subsequently to be furnished with a mark by the second sorting installation Anl-2. In the exemplary embodiment, the furnishing with marks is the predefined treatment of some items.

The selection unit 1 determines such data records and transmits the selected data records in the form of a message Aus to the second sorting installation. In order to provide rapid access to these selected data records Aus, the second sorting installation Anl-2 preferably stores these selected data records Aus locally.

FIG. 2 shows a stream of postal consignments that passes through the second sorting installation Anl-2 in a direction of travel F. For illustration purposes, these postal consignments are numbered serially in FIG. 2, in descending order in the direction of travel F.

The second sorting installation Anl-2 has a reading device with a camera 2, and a printer 3. The reading device with the camera 2 is configured for generating for each postal consignment passing through a digital image Abb of the surface of the postal consignment that contains the delivery address printed thereon. The printer 3 is configured for generating an imprint on a postal consignment guided past the printer 3 in accordance with a set Dru of print instructions. It is possible for the printer 3 to print directly onto the postal consignment. It is also possible for the printer 3 to print a self-adhesive label and affix this label to the postal consignment.

According to the invention, the predefined set of features is subdivided into a first set of N1 features and a second set of N2 features. Each of these two sets contains at least one feature, i.e. N1>=1 and N2>=1. N=N1. N=N1+N2 applies.

The stream of postal consignments passes through the second sorting installation Anl-2 at an adjustable speed. The reading device with the camera 2 generates for each postal consignment passing through a digital image Abb. The computational unit 4 is supplied with this digital image Abb and determines for each predefined feature the particular feature value that the feature assumes for this postal consignment. To do this, it uses the digital image Abb as well as in one embodiment further measurement values, e.g. the length measured in the direction of travel F or the height or the thickness or the weight of each postal consignment.

The measurement and calculation of all the feature values requires time. According to the invention, the computational unit 4 therefore calculates first only some of the feature values, namely the values for those N1 features which are contained in the first set. Only afterwards does it calculate the values for the N2 features of the second set.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, the computational unit 4 calculates for the postal consignment n those N1 values that the N1 features of the first set assume for the postal consignment n. Once the postal consignment n has reached the position Pos-1, calculation of the N1 values for the first set of features is complete. The computational unit 4 searches in the selected data records Aus for a data record in which the N1 features of the first set assume the same values as the N1 values just measured. “The same value” of a feature means: the two values match to within a predefined tolerance.

If no such selected data record is found in the set Aus, then nothing has to be printed on the postal consignment currently under consideration. If a selected data record with matching N1 feature values is found, then the data record additionally specifies what is to be affixed to the postal consignment. The computational unit 4 analyzes the data record that has been found and generates printer instructions Dru. These printer instructions Dru are transmitted to the printer 3. The printer 3 prints the mark on the postal consignment or generates a label that is affixed to the postal consignment.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, the printer 3 affixes this mark to the postal consignment n as soon as the postal consignment n has reached the position that the postal consignment n-1 has in FIG. 2.

The postal consignments pass further through the second sorting installation Anl-2. As soon as the postal consignment n has reached the second position Pos-2, the computational unit 4 has completed the measurement and calculation of the remaining N2 feature values. Based upon the overall N=N1+N2 feature values, a correction unit 5 of the second sorting installation Anl-2 checks whether the selected data record which was found on the basis of the first N1 feature values, actually originates from the postal consignment n or whether an incorrect interpretation has occurred. If the N1 feature values led to an incorrect interpretation, then the postal consignment n was incorrectly furnished with a mark or furnished with an incorrect mark. In this case, the correction unit 5 causes the postal consignment n to be discharged into a correction output compartment Af-2.k. The postal consignment is then subjected to manual post-processing.

All other postal consignments, i.e. those that have not been discharged into the correction output compartment Af-2.k, pass on through the second sorting installation Anl-2. As soon as the postal consignment n has reached a third position Pos-3, the computational unit 4 has completed the computation of sorting requirements. Depending on this computation, the second sorting installation Anl-2 discharges the postal consignment into one of its output compartments. FIG. 2 shows the three output compartments Af-2.1, Af-2.2 and Af-2.3.

The steps just described were described for the second sorting installation Anl-2. The further sorting installation Abl-3 performs analogous steps for the postal consignments passing therethrough. 

1. A method for transporting and processing multiple items, which comprises the steps of: predefining at least one measurable processing attribute and at least two measurable features; passing each item through a first processing installation and performing the steps of: measuring what value the measurable processing attribute assumes for the item resulting in a measured processing-attribute value; measuring for each of the two measurable features what value a measurable feature assumes for the item resulting in two measured feature values; generating and storing a data record for the item, the data record containing the two measured feature values and the measured processing-attribute value; passing each item through at least one second processing installation and performing the steps of: measuring afresh for each of the measurable features what value the measurable feature assumes for the item resulting in two new measured feature values; measuring at a first time point the value which one of the two measurable features assumes for the item; measuring at a subsequent second time point the value which the other measurable feature assumes for the item; searching for a selected data record with the value measured at the first time point; after the data record is found, subjecting the item concerned to a predefined treatment; using the two new measured feature values to determine the data record which the first processing installation has generated and stored for the item; and processing the item depending on the processing-attribute value in the data record determined; selecting at least one data record which was generated for the item, the item being subjected to a predefined treatment by the second processing installation.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second processing installation, when it has found the selected data record with the value measured at the first time point, starts the predefined treatment of the item before the second time point.
 3. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises: passing the items through the first and the at least one second processing installation in one sequence respectively; determining a sequence in which the items pass through the first processing installation; and using the sequence determined to define a target sequence in which the items are to pass through the at least one second processing installation, and the at least one second processing installation uses the target sequence of the items in searching for the selected data record with the feature value measured at the first time point.
 4. The method according to claim 3, which further comprises deriving from the target sequence of the items and from the data records, a target sequence of data records and using the target sequence of the data records in the search.
 5. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises for each item passing through the at least one second processing installation: generating in each case an image of the item; and measuring the two measurable features by analyzing the image and a time at which a respective analysis is complete is used as a respective time of measurement of the value of the measurable feature.
 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one second processing installation, for at least one data record which it has found using the first feature value, performs the steps of: checking whether the value which the other feature in the item assumes during the measurement at the second time point matches the value of the other feature which a found data record contains, and if there is no match, performing a corrective operation for the item which, based on the feature value measured at the first time point and the finding of the data record, the item is subjected to the predefined treatment.
 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predefined treatment of the item by the second processing installation depends at least on one of the first feature value measured at the first time point and on the processing-attribute value measured during the first pass for the item.
 8. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises: executing the selection of the at least one data record using the processing-attribute values measured during the first pass of the items; and the processing of an item from which a selected data record that was found using the feature value measured at the first time point originates contains the step whereby the second processing installation affixes at least one character to the item, depending on the value which the processing-attribute value assumes for the item.
 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein in that for at least one item the measured processing-attribute value which the first processing installation measures, is an identification of a destination to which the item is to be transported and with which the item is furnished, and the at least one character which the second processing installation affixes to the item depending on the measured processing-attribute value, is a further parameter for transportation of the item.
 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the further parameter for transportation of the item is a different destination point.
 11. A device for transporting and processing multiple items, the device comprising: a first processing installation; a second processing installation; and a database connected to both said first and second processing installations; said first processing installation being configured, for each item, to: measure a value of a predefined processing attribute of the item resulting in a measured processing-attribute value; measure two values of two predefined features of the item resulting in two measured feature values; and generate and store in said database a data record for the item, the data record containing the two measured feature values and the measured processing-attribute value; said second processing installation being configured, for each item, to: measure anew the two values, which the two predefined features assume for the item resulting in two new feature values; use the two new feature values measured to determine the data record which said first processing installation has generated and stored for the item; and process the item depending on the processing-attribute value in the data record; the device configured to select at least one data record which was generated for the item, the item being subjected to a predefined treatment by the second processing installation; said second processing installation further configured, for each item, to: measure at a first time point the value which the one of the two features assumes for the item; measure at a subsequent second time point the value which the other feature assumes for the item; and search for a selected data record with the feature value measured at the first time point and when the selected data record is found, subject the item concerned to the predefined treatment. 